Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS
Tonight’s much anticipated men’s 200 butterfly final was as eventful as anticipated.
Laszlo Cseh of Hungary led at the 50 meter mark before the USA’s Michael Phelps took control at the halfway point and continued to pull away in the third 50 meters. Phelps took a short stroke into the third turn and Chad Le Clos of South Africa had an incredible third under water to start to close the gap.
But n the final 30 meters Masato Sakai of Japan snuck up on the outside as le Clos faded.
The Greatest-of-All-Time held on and became the oldest swimmer to win gold in an individual event, touching in 1:53.36. Sakai almost completed what would have been a historic upset, but he settled for second, just .04 behind in 1:53.40. That finish became the smallest margin of victory in this race in Olympic history.
Tama Kenderesi of Hungary posted the fastest times in prelims and semifinals. He earned bronze tonight with his 1:53.62.
Le Clos, who four years ago upset Phelps to win his first Olympic gold, wound up fourth, finishing in 1:54.06. A crushed le Clos did not speak with reporters afterwards, but he already won a silver earlier in the week in the 200 free and figures to have another medal chance in the upcoming 100 fly.
Daiya Seto of Japan took fifth with his 1:54.82. Denmark’s Viktor Bromer snagged sixth in 1:55.64. Cseh settled for seventh in 1:56.24, nowhere close to his best time this year, a 1:52.94 that still leads the world rankings. Belgium’s Louis Croenen completed the final in 1:57.04.
Full results from tonight’s semifinals and finals are available here.
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If that don’t take the wind otta the sails if the London Okympic braggart nuthin’ will.
The GOAT’ll crush him like an ant in the 100 and the rest of the world can kiss off any hopes of an upset in the 200 IM too.
Even Ryan Lochte @. 115 percent healthy woukdn’t be able to get him and in one keg? No way!
BTW: inky ( Inge de Bruijn wad 31 I believe when she won gold @. Athens.
Inky wad born August 24, 1973,so showcase still 30 @. Athens so thevGOAT is indeed oldest swimming gold- medalist.